Let’s get real: The bride is the heroine of the big day, but you can’t forget the supporting stars. The bridesmaids surely take the top spot here. From helping her curate a dream bridal trousseau to making the bride feel most relaxed in case of cold feet, the role of the bride tribe, including the maid of honour and the rest of the bridesmaids, is most important to ensure the bride has the happiest day of her life without a hitch. Given that the bride tribe is also going to be part of every ritual and possibly photograph, they need to dress the part too. Sure, the outfit and jewellery make the look. But at Khush, we believe it’s the little details that count. The mehndi design of the bridesmaids included.
Much like the bride’s mehndi, the bride tribe’s henna must stand out too. Of course, without upstaging the bride. Not to mention, it shouldn’t warrant unnecessary attention at work that’ll attract questions like “Did you get married?” We suggest let the palms of your hands become canvases to create the most unique mehndi designs that are both pretty and pared-down. You can consider classic Indian henna art, a bold Arabic design or a modern one with negative space patterns. From your favourite flowers to the wedding hashtag, the choices are endless to make it your own.
We sourced Instagram accounts of four Khush favourite henna artists, Gurpreet Bhumber of Apni Mehndi, Kavita of KV Mendhi, Manraj Tawana of Manraj Henna and Halimah Abubacker of Hbeauty, to curate an inspiration gallery for you to save. Each expert is known for making custom creations and infusing it with their unique flair. Whether you want traditional mehndi or something with an unexpected twist, check our edit of designs for ideas and inspiration.
The best traditional Indian henna patterns
Traditional mehndi for the bride tribe? There’s no going wrong with that. Classic Indian henna usually entails intricate henna work. You can expect flora and fauna patterns such as paisleys, peacocks and elephants as well as geometric designs like jaal motifs, swirls, dotted lines, concentric circles and criss-cross patterns among much more. Gurpreet Bhumber of Apni Mehndi leaves no stone unturned in bringing a traditional Indian flair to the look. But she doesn’t hesitate from adding her signature touch with personalised details from the wedding to common travel experiences that the BFFs might have shared with the bride.
The best Arabic mehndi designs
While traditional mehndi never goes out of style, there’s just something so special about rich Arabic designs. Originating from Persia, it features bold strokes and a free-flowing style that showcases a unique look. And if you love the bold reddish hues of henna and want to flaunt it in your hands, then this mehndi style is the best one for you. Kavita of KV Mendhi goes all out with the bridesmaids mehndi. From modern flowers like roses and peonies to architectural marvels that signify some personal memory for the tribe, she creates gorgeous artworks. Her forte is mixing things up for a unique look, like traditional Indian with Arabic styles.
The best negative mehndi designs
Among several bridal mehndi styles, designs with negative spaces truly stands out. Also known as reverse negative space mehndi design, this technique entails creating the outline of a particular design and then the design is highlighted by filling the usual empty spaces. The style is perfect for brides who want to flaunt a bold use of colour on their big day. Halimah Abubacker of Hbeauty has aced the art of creating the most intricate henna designs by viewing the traditional artform with a modern lens. She borrows inspiration from everywhere for a look that showcases symmetry, uniqueness and intricacy. From classic to contemporary, the sky is her limit when it comes to motifs. Be it paisleys, peonies, penguins or peacocks, you can expect her to create a look you desire.
The best half and half mehndi ideas
An innovative mehndi style to consider is half and half designs. Just as the name suggests, it a henna aesthetic with the exact design being replicated on the other hand. The result is a beautiful mirror effect. What truly makes it special that you don’t have to stick to just one style. If you prefer traditional mehndi, you can go the classic Indian mehndi route. Or opt for a modern idea. Manraj Tawana behind Manraj Henna is known for creating some of the most intricate and personalised bridal artworks. Her one-of-a-kind ideas on customisations, especially when it comes to symmetrical and super stylish half and half mehndi, is totally worth the buzz.